A cup tie with one of the Premier League’s ‘big boys’ is something most fans of Championship clubs or below strive.
When Everton was pulled out of the pot to reveal Preston North End’s visitors for the second round of the Carabao Cup, many were happy with the outcome.
The return of David Moyes and Harrison Armstrong, two players who were valued very highly by the club in their respective stints with the club.
After scraping past Huddersfield Town on penalties at Goodison Park to reach the next round, this tie will provide a real test of strength for this Preston side.
Although their league form is providing some early grave concerns, the League Cup might provide an opportunity to springboard their season if they can pull off an upset.
Last Time Out
Suffering back-to-back defeats in the league, the start to the season has been far from ideal for Paul Heckingbottom’s side, who are in desperate need of reinforcements for their thin squad quality-wise.
A 2-1 opening day defeat was followed up by a 3-1 loss at home to Wolves, where Fer Lopez ran the show and exposed Preston’s defensive woes further.
The Toffees, on the other hand, have got off to a brilliant start after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry helped them brush aside a lacklustre Palace team who failed to beat Pickford on multiple occasions.
The Return of Moyes
Moyes brought the Lilywhites back into the Championship under his guise, winning the Second Division (now League One) to get Preston one step closer to the Premier League.
In his first season back in the First Division (Championship), Moyes reached the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, where Sam Allardyce’s Bolton brushed them aside 3-0 to deny Preston a golden opportunity to reach the Premier League.
With another finish outside the play-offs, Moyes would be appointed the new Everton manager in March 2002, going on to have a defining era at Everton that saw them reach an F.A Cup final, lose Champions League qualification despite finishing fourth, and bring through talents such as Wayne Rooney.
Now back at Everton, he’s looked after his old club, showing his love for Preston with Harrison Armstrong’s loan move where he played a huge part in playing up the club’s capabilities of developing players.
Moyes will forget his ties on Wednesday evening however, as he hopes he can deliver Everton a trophy before his contract expires.
The Danger Men
There will be plenty of players of great quality lining up at Deepdale, albeit from Everton’s side.
A World Cup star, a return of a fan favourite, and even a former Blackpool player, there’s a lot of key individuals for the PNE defence to keep an eye on come Wednesday night.
Iliman Ndiaye
Let’s start with the obvious threat, the former Sheffield United man was poised for a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, turning it down and favouring a stay in the Premier League.
His dribbling technique, positional awareness, and eye for a goal or assist is enough to dictate games on his own.
Scoring and assisting twice at the World Cup in the summer, Ndiaye is a player capable of playing on the world’s biggest stage, so a cup tie against Preston North End is merely a game of fitness for him.
Able to play in the middle, on the both flanks, and up front, he goes a long way tactically and will show his flexibility on the night to try and find Everton answers should things provide a tough challenge.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
A former Blackpool loanee, the central midfielder will command the middle of the park on the night, playing as a well-rounded option in front of Harrison Armstrong and Hayden Hackney.
His range of passing and work rate will be crucial to Everton meaning Preston will need an athletic option in midfield to follow him around and man mark.
If he’s allowed to influence the game to great effect, then it’ll only go one way on the night… and give Blackpool fans some bragging rights over the Lilywhites.
The former Leicester and Chelsea man seems to be finding his voice as one of Everton’s main men on the pitch and in the dressing room, this season will show just that with a goal already to his name against Crystal Palace.
Harrison Armstrong
Who’s cutting onions? The former Preston man was an absolute revelation for the club during his five months stay in Lancashire last season.
Recalled in January, North End felt his absence almost immediately as his athleticism and all-round ability lacking in the middle of the park for Preston.
Box-crashing runs, deep-lying playmaker, tracking runners – the kid had the ability to take on the very best in the Championship which was ultimately recognised.
Impressing in pre-season and in the season opener, this season will be a defining one of the youngster and surely put himself in frame for a England call-up.
XI Prediction:
Preston North End (5-3-2)
Lee Nicholls, Harry Clarke, Odeluga Offiah, Lewis Gibson, Andrew Hughes, Andrija Vukcevic, Ali McCann, Leo Leroy, Alfie Devine, Jusef Erabi, Callum Lang
Everton (4-2-3-1)
Mark Travers, Merlin Rohl, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Hayden Hackney, Harrison Armstrong, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Beto
Score Prediction: Preston North End 1-3 Everton
This will be a routine win for The Toffees, although they set capable of making things tough for themselves, Preston are hardly in a place to threaten their place in the cup.
North End still need to get bodies in the door and will be looking to embed Lewis Gibson and Odeluga Offiah back into the fold after brief absences from the squad.
Tickets haven’t sold well, on the Sky Sports cameras, and a potential for more away fans than home – it’s a recipe for disaster for the Lilywhites.
Nottingham Forest Defender Linked To PNE
Vital Preston…
OPINION: Milutin Osmajic Leaves PNE
Vital Preston…